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Two more titles for Evans

Tom Arup

WITH a Tour de France win already under his belt, Cadel Evans can now add two more titles to his resume.

At an event in Federation Square on Tuesday night the champion cyclist was part of a team of almost 1000 that broke two Guinness World Records - most electrical energy generated by pedalling on bicycles in an hour, and most lights lit by pedal power.

The event was held to promote sustainability in every day life and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Evans told Fairfax Media in an interview last week that he increasingly wanted to lend his profile to education programs and events on climate change and environmental issues.

Evans said on Tuesday night: "I am not a greenie, I don't have long hair. I have shoes on. I just like to think I am a responsible member of society."

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"I am not going to criticise the Government in any way but I think we have to move quicker [on climate change]," Evans said.

During the event a "peloton" of cyclists rode on the spot in front of several hundred onlookers to generate electricity that powered 35,000 lights in the shape of a Christmas tree.

To power the lights the cyclists needed to generated 80 watts while riding. By comparison Evans said his 120 kilometre training ride last Friday was done at an average of 240 watts over four hours.

All up the cyclists generated 4630 watts hours of electricity, beating the previous record of 750 held by an Austrian group.

Chief climate change commissioner Professor Tim Flannery, who also rode in the event, said it was aimed to teach people how precious energy is and that it had to be used more efficiently.

"As we produce energy, the way we are doing it at the moment, burning fossil fuels, the planet is warming up and that is having a big impact," Professor Flannery says.

Greens leader Christine Milne said: "We need people like Cadel to popularise the cause, and promote renewable energy and cycling."

Evans lives in Europe most of the year due to his cycling commitments, but spends offseasons at his home in Barwon Heads on Victoria's Bellarine Peninsula.